MLB notes: Verlander gives Tigers contract deadline

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander reacts after giving up an RBI single to San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito in the fourth inning of Game 1 of the MLB World Series baseball championship in San Francisco, October 24, 2012. (REUTERS/Robert Galbraith)

Boggs has been credited with just four saves in his major league career, but has an ERA of 2.21 in 78 big league appearances.

MCCANN SLUGGISH IN REHAB

Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann is expected to be out of the lineup through April as he recovers from shoulder surgery, the Braves announced Saturday.

The 29-year-old had his shoulder operated on in mid-October, and the Braves have not given a set date for his return.

“He’s progressing fine. I don’t think he’s behind or ahead (of schedule),” general manager Frank Wren said. “I just think it’s progressing as you would expect, and as you get closer the improvement could happen very quickly once you get the shoulder strengthened.”

McCann hit .230 in 2012, with 20 home runs and 67 RBIs in 439 plate appearances.

RANGERS EYEING KYLE LOHSE

Kyle Lohse could be heading for the Lonestar State.

The Texas Rangers are reportedly interested in the 34-year-old righty, but have downplayed any sense of urgency in acquiring his services.

According to MLB.com, the Rangers sent a scout to watch Lohse toss his latest simulated game at a community college in Arizona.

Lohse turned down a $13.3 million qualifying offer from the St. Louis Cardinals last November in the hopes of something more lucrative in free agency.

According to Yahoo! Sports, Lohse expects a deal similar to what the Boston Red Sox offered Ryan Dempster — a three-year, $45 million contract.

In 2012, Lohse went 16-3 with an ERA of 2.86. He threw 143 strikeouts in 211 innings pitched.

TIM HUDSON THROWS EEPHUS PITCH

In the Washington Nationals-Atlanta Braves game Friday, starting pitcher Tim Hudson lobbed in a rare eephus pitch to his former Braves teammate Adam LaRoche.

An eephus pitch is a very low-speed, low velocity knuckleball that tends to catch hitters off-guard. Its name is thought to come from the Hebrew word efes, which means nothing.

NBC Sports reported that back in 1981, LaRoche’s father, Dave, was on the mound for the New York Yankees when he delivered not one, but several eephus balls to Milwaukee Brewers centre fielder Gorman Thomas, who struck out swinging.

In the Hudson-LaRoche session, Hudson threw a fastball on his second pitch and LaRoche hit it into right field for a single.